Vees PK a road force

The Penticton Vees penalty-killing unit is now ranked No.1 on the road in the B.C. Hockey League.

The Vees returned from a Vancouver Island road trip that saw them go 1-1-0-1, but their penalty kill was at its best as they didn’t give up a goal on 12 chances. On the season, the Vees have allowed five goals on 43 chances, an efficiency rate of 88.3 per cent.

In a 4-3 overtime win over the Victoria Grizzlies to open the trip, the penalty kill unit went three-for-three. Against the Clippers in Nanaimo in a 3-2 loss, the Vees again went three-for-three. In the final game of the trip against the Cowichan Valley Capitals, a 4-2 defeat, the Vees went five-for-five on the penalty kill.

The Vees, who were short of forwards for the trip, are now 17-3-0-1 and their road record slips to 9-2-0-1.

In their win over the Vees, Clippers coach Mike Vandekamp expressed to the Nanaimo News Bulletin how big the victory was.

“It’s a pretty big boost, I’d say,” said Vandekamp. “Now we can kind of say, ‘OK, we know we can beat anyone’ and you probably raise your expectations.”

During the Vees trip, Vees forward Patrick Newell had his six game point streak snapped against the Clippers. He then collected two assists on Sunday and since Oct. 26, Newell has two goals and 10 assists for 12 points in eight games. He is now fifth in Vees scoring with five goals and 17 points in 21 games.

The Vees dropped from No.1 in the Canadian Junior Hockey League rankings to No. 3. The Carleton Place Canadians in the Central Canadian Hockey League are now No.1, while the Portage Terriers in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League hold down the No. 2 spot.

The Vees return to action in Vernon on Nov. 14. A limited number of seats for $35 are available on the Domino’s Pizza Fan Bus. Get tickets at the Valley First Box Office at the South Okanagan EventsCentre.